Public Religious Devotion in a Secular Society

"[Muslim societies are prepared to] take action [should the rights of students be violated if the government of Quebec enforces a ban on prayer spaces in public schools]."

"We haven['t actually seen how that is going to tangibly impact people. So [if] these directives would in fact constitute in practice a limitation on people's fundamental rights, then we would do something, we would take action."

Spokesman, National Council of Canadian Muslims

"What would be totally contrary to the Charter and I think will get struck down -- is a prohibition on individuals praying in schools."

"I don't think they'll do that; I think that would be asking for a challenge."

Civil rights lawyer Julius Grey

"My message to the Quebec government is to be practical, to respect citizens -- all citizens, regardless of their religion or their faith or their origin; the government is the government of everybody."

Secularism is not a carte blanche to erase religion or religious practice."

Montreal Imam Hassan Guillet

 

Muslims who are piously observant pray five times daily. Under Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms it is stipulated under law that freedom of religion, equality, freedom of speech and of action are guaranteed. At the time the Charter was written it could hardly have been anticipated that a growing Muslim population through immigration and the acceptance of refugees would in time create a social-cultural-religious force demanding special privileges.

Just as the government itself is secular, so are Canadian public schools, while private schools of various religious denominations abound. In those private schools special consideration can be and is obviously given to conditions demanded by religious observation. In public schools such considerations should be out of the question. Equal treatment and respect for all should in theory mean that conditions are the same for all attendees. Muslim parents often inform school authorities their children should be excused from participation in school gym and music classes, both counter to their religion.

Quebec's Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville appears to have only latterly been aware that in the province at least two, perhaps more Montreal-area schools had set aside a room for Muslim students to pray. Where prayer mats on the floor and copies of the Koran are freely available to the students. No other religion has demanded such a privilege or anything remotely resembling it. In the past Christmas trees and other decorations were routinely to be seen in all Canadian schools, but no longer are, in respect of the presence of immigrants and refugees from countries and religious sects all over the world.

Mr. Drainville made it known that he plans to prohibit schools from making these special accommodations for Muslim students. He has no plans to ban prayers, stating that students who wished to pray could do so 'discreetly' and 'silently'. Schools, said Mr. Drainville, are not set up to privilege one religion over another. The assurance to all should be that everyone is equally respected and equally treated. 

Quebec's Bill 21 passed in 2019, a secularism law, that prohibits workers in public institutions from wearing religious symbols while at work, a group that includes many public servants including teachers. Civil rights lawyer Julius Grey's legal opinion is that Quebec schools, Bill 21 aside, are under no obligation to open spaces dedicated to prayer. In the same token the government will be unable to prevent students from praying altogether during school hours on school property.